Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Final Fantasy VII. Sad for me.

Author's Note: Hey everyone. It's been a while since I updated this fic, been having too much fun working on The Gunslinger. But fear not, I will not be giving up or abandoning this fic. This chapter is a pretty long one and there is some good action and even a little drama and romance. So enjoy and, like always, read and review!

Chapter 21

"Quidditch Chaos"

"Why did your friend do that last night?" Cho asked Harry as they walked to breakfast. She kept fiddling with her wand and avoided looking directly at Harry's face, like she was shaken or nervous about the whole thing, and Harry wasn't quite sure how to comfort her. "Merlin, he's a Death Eater, isn't he? We need to tell Professor Dumbledore right away!"

"Cloud would never hurt anyone on purpose," said Harry, giving Cho a reassuring smile. "And, trust me, he is not a Death Eater."

Cho stopped in the middle of the hallway and stared at Harry, her eyebrows scrunching together in a quizzical look. "How do you know he's not a Death Eater?"

"Well, we asked," Harry answered, remembering the confrontation in the Room of Requirement.

"We? You mean you and your little group." Harry noticed the slight sting in Cho's voice and remembered how she reacted to his friendship with Hermione last year.

"Yeah, sort of. I mean, Ginny and I asked. Ron and Hermione just sort of threatened Cloud and Tifa with their wands," Harry said. Cho laughed and Harry smiled at the sweet, almost bell-like sound.

"I should have known the three of you would do something like that," she said.

"We were just looking out for everybody," Harry said defensively.

"I know, I know," said Cho. "You always think about everyone else before yourself. Its one of the things I like most about you, even though it's totally illogical and completely reckless sometimes."

"Like my superhero moment?"

"Exactly," said Cho and she turned around to face Harry. "You know, other than Malfoy being a total jerk and nearly getting cut in half by your friend, I had a great time with you last night."

"Me too."

Cho shuffled around, staring at the walls and floor, looking everywhere other than at Harry. "I was wondering, that is, if you wanted to, um, maybe give things another chance? You know, between you and me?"

-VII-

"So what did you say?" asked Hermione at the breakfast table as Harry paused his story to take a bite out of his breakfast sausage.

"He probably didn't say anything," muttered Ron, his mouth full of food. "I bet they just started snogging right there outside the Great Hall."

"Chew your food Ron," Hermione scowled with an eye roll. "We both know Harry would never do something like that. Would you, Harry?"

Harry's cheeks began to redden as he did his best to concentrate on his breakfast. Hermione's jaw dropped and her eyes opened wide.

"Harry James Potter!"

"I said yes to her first," Harry said sheepishly while Ron roared with laughter.

"Oh, you boys are all alike," grumbled Hermione. "You're only ever thinking about one thing."

"That's not true," protested Ron. "We think about Quidditch a lot too." He and Harry started laughing, but Hermione just rolled her eyes.

"Very cute you two, but you need to…" she started to lecture, but stopped suddenly as the entire Great Hall grew silent. Cloud and Tifa had just entered the Great Hall.

-VII-

All eyes were focused on Cloud and he could feel each and everyone. His own glowing eyes swept over the Hall, taking note of each whispering table. Even the professors, seated up at the High Table, whispered and stared.

'They all think I'm some kind of monster or a psycho like that Voldemort guy,' he thought and would have left the Great Hall in shame if Tifa hadn't grabbed onto his hand. Cloud glanced at the hand enclosing his own and then up at her beautiful face.

"It'll be ok," she whispered and Cloud managed to smile back at her. Together they walked past the whispering Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables and past the laughing Slytherin table. Even the Gryffindors moved aside and slid down the benches as Cloud and Tifa took their seats, giving the pair a lot of room. Only Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Ginny didn't move or fidget away.

The Great Hall was silent for a second more and then began to buzz with hundreds of separate conversations and everyone returned to their own meals. Cloud, ignoring the looks from either end of the Gryffindor table, piled spoonfuls of scrambled eggs and potatoes onto his plate. He began to eat, aware that the eyes of his friends remained fixed on him.

"You might as well ask," he said without looking up. "All this staring is ruining my appetite."

"Are you ok?" Hermione asked gently. Cloud looked up at her, raising an eyebrow. "Ok, stupid question," Hermione smiled. "Why don't you just tell us what happened?"

Cloud looked over his left and right shoulders, catching the other Gryffindors watching. They turned away quickly, embarrassed at being caught. "This isn't the best place," he said, returning to his eggs. "We'll go to your interrogation room after breakfast. And this is the last time I'm explaining anything."

-VII-

The Room of Requirement was much more comfortable since the last time Cloud, Tifa, and the others were in it. They all sat in cushioned chairs and sofas while Cloud and Tifa did their best to explain things.

"So you're not mad or evil or something. You're just being controlled like Harry used to be?" Hermione asked. Cloud nodded.

"This is bloody confusing and complicated," muttered Ron. "I was just getting used to you two being from a different world or time or something. Now you're telling me you're a clone or mutation or who the bloody hell knows!"

"Its best if you try not to dwell on it," suggested Tifa. "I'll give you headaches."

"I'm not even 100 sure of what I am or what's happened to me," Cloud said before turning to Harry. The young wizard has been silent throughout the entire explanation.

"I'm sorry I tried to cut you and your girlfriend in half," Cloud apologized.

"It's alright. No one was seriously hurt and, honestly, I think I'm starting to get used to people trying to kill me," Harry sighed and scratched the back of his head.

"So, you two are together now huh?" smirked Ginny. Cloud smiled with a dark red blush and Tifa just beamed. "Haha, pay up," she grinned. Grumbling, Ron, Harry, and Hermione dug into their robes and dropped 4 sickles into Ginny's hand.

"There was a bet on us getting together?" Tifa asked astonished.

"Everyone could tell you two had it bad for one another," Ginny explained, pocketing the money. "We just bet on the date."

"Ron said before end of term, Hermione was after Christmas, Ginny was before break, and I said during the break," Harry said.

"Well, I'm glad no one bet against us," said Tifa.

"Yeah well, we'd better get to class," Hermione reminded them. "Professor McGonagall will give us all extra homework if we're late."

-VII-

The day went slowly for Cloud, the classes dragging along. The other students stared at him in each class and even the professors were wary around him. Cloud wasn't sure if Dumbledore had told them anything or not, but Professor McGonagall avoided meeting his eyes with her own the entire Transfiguration Class and even hesitated to hand him back his homework on self-transfiguration. Professor Snape was even more hostile than usual.

"Pathetic, Mr. Strife," Snape sneered as he waved his wand over Cloud's cauldron, emptying the contents and failing Cloud for the day. He turned to walk away, a smug smile on his face, and tripped over Nanaki's fiery tail. Snape caught his balance and turned back at Cloud. "From now on, you will not bring this mangy beast to class Mr. Strife. If I see it inside my classroom again, I will cut off its tail and mane for my private potion stocks. Fire Lion components have been in short supply for years," he said and gave Nanaki a slight kick.

It took Harry, Ron, and Tifa to restrain Cloud from attacking the Professor, while Hermione had to use a Body-Bind Curse on Nanaki to keep him from mauling Snape.

Cloud was still fuming as he walked to his private lesson with Dumbledore. 'I swear I'm gonna get Snape good for that," he promised to himself. He uttered the password to the gargoyles and walked up the staircase. He raised his hand to knock on the headmaster's door, but heard a voice coming from the other side. He lowered his hand and just walked in.

Harry and Dumbledore stood in the middle of the room, wands drawn in what looked like some sort of duel to Cloud. Sparks of red and blue energy flew from their wands, crashing against the walls and into the various magical knick-knacks that filled Dumbledore's office. One blast of red energy crashed into the doorframe above Cloud's head, causing Cloud to duck and utter a loud curse. Harry and Dumbledore stopped dueling and turned, noticing Cloud for the first time.

"Sorry Cloud. Didn't see you there," laughed Harry.

"Watch your aim next time," growled Cloud. "You're lucky you didn't take my eye out."

"Oh come on, it was only a stunning spell, you big baby," Harry countered.

"If you two are done, I believe I can begin your Occlumency training," said Dumbledore. "Cloud, the ability of extracting feelings, reading memories, and even controlling the mind is known as Legilimency. Lord Voldemort is known to be a Master Legilimens and, because of your past and unique abilities, you are especially vulnerable to this power."

"Lucky me," muttered Cloud.

"Harry is likewise vulnerable and has even been possessed by Voldemort in the past," Dumbledore continued. "To prevent this from becoming a danger to yourselves and to others, you both need to learn how to shield your minds from such attacks. This is called Occlumency."

"Snape tried teaching me that last year," Harry said to Cloud. "Did a lousy job though."

"Professor Snape's history with your father clouded his judgment," Dumbledore admitted. "That is why I will be instructing you both from now on. And I best believe we get started. Harry, since you have some knowledge, you will play the aggressor and try to enter Cloud's mind. Do you remember the incantation?" Harry nodded and Dumbledore turned to Cloud. "I want you to try and create a mental shield, something to block the intrusion. The key is to control and hide your emotions. Become a blank slate and counter Harry's spell with one of your own."

Cloud nodded and drew his wand. He stood across from Harry and tried his best to empty his mind. When he thought he was ready, he nodded at Harry. "Alright, let's do this."

Harry leveled his wand at Cloud's face and shouted "Legilimens!"

Harry's spell slammed into Cloud's mind, fighting against the flimsy barrier Cloud had created in his mind, and ripping through it after a moment. Cloud reeled backwards, the Headmaster's office swimming away and image after image flashed before his eyes, a flickering film of his past.

He was a kid in Nibelhiem, watching Tifa run around the Nibel Mountain paths with her friends, his heart already filled with desire that his mind couldn't understand….Sitting at the well with Tifa, making promises….He is standing at attention in Shinra Boot Camp, his drill sergeant barking and spitting into his face….He's in an infantry uniform, listening to Zack Fair give a heartfelt and inspirational speech….

'Zack…' thought Cloud. 'Never lose your dreams…'

A sudden shock of pain snapped Cloud back to reality; he had fallen onto the floor and landed hard on his rear end. He looked up at Harry, who had lowered his wand and was dripping wet.

"Did you mean to produce an Aguamenti charm?" Dumbledore asked Cloud. Cloud shook his head, getting up from the floor.

"I had hoped not," Dumbledore said. "If only for the sake of my furniture. You let Harry get too far, you lost control."

"Who's the guy with black hair that was holding your sword?" asked Harry.

"That was Zack, I told you about him before," answered Cloud. "Wait, did you see everything I saw?"

"Most of it," said Harry. "Sort of how it works."

"I'd like you both to try again," said Dumbledore. "This time, focus on emptying your mind of all memory and emotion, then form the mental shield."

Cloud nodded and tried to empty his mind, but found it nearly impossible. How could he let go of all his emotions; of his anger towards Voldemort and Sephiroth, even though none of what had happened was Sephiroth's fault; of his love for Aeris, for Tifa. He couldn't just cast all of that aside like meaningless garbage.

"Legilimens!"

This time, the spell tore through Cloud's mind, passing through his defenses like a Bludger through tissue paper. The images came stronger and faster this time.

Dumbledore's office grows completely dark, then begins to glow an eerie white. A raised alter appears. A petite girl, dressed in a pink dress and red jacket, knelt on the alter, her hands folded in prayer. He moves towards the alter, his movements jerky and controlled….He raises his sword to strike….A shadow above, Sephiroth falling from the ceiling, sword piercing into the girls back and out her stomach….

"NOOOOOOOO!"

Cloud's face contorted into a mask of sadness and fury as he broke out of Harry's spell. He blindly lashed out with his powers, sending a shockwave of telekinetic energy from his outstretched hand. The wave tore through Dumbledore's office, destroying his desk and several of his bookcases. It ripped down several portraits and knocked Harry and Dumbledore to the ground.

Cloud's rage left him as soon as he saw Harry and Dumbledore lying on the ground, both their eyes opened wide in fear and astonishment.

"I am so sorry," Cloud said and he quickly ran over to help them up. "I didn't mean to do that. I don't even know how I did that."

"It's quite alright," chuckled Dumbledore, brushing a bit of dust off his robes. "This room has survived worse calamities than this. However, I do believe this is the most opportune time to stop for today."

Cloud nodded and looked at Harry. The boy's face was pale and he hadn't spoken a word since he cast the spell.

"Now, I believe I have a bit of cleaning up to do," smiled Dumbledore. "We will try again next week. Goodnight."

-VII-

Cloud and Harry walked through the hallways; their hands in their pockets, the only sound were their footsteps echoing through the empty halls. The silence grew awkward and Cloud began to feel guilty.

"Harry, I'm really sorry I kinda blasted you and Dumbledore back there. It really was an accident," he said.

"Don't worry about it," Harry said in a monotone voice, turning his head away so he didn't have to look Cloud in the eye.

"What's the matter Harry? You hurt or something?"

Harry shook his head. "I'm ok; you just knocked the wind out of me." He stopped in the middle of the hallway and faced Cloud. "It's…it's what I saw before that. I saw her on the alter. That was Aeris wasn't it?"

Cloud nodded solemnly. "Sephiroth tried to make me kill her. I would of too, if the others hadn't stopped me in time. But now I think that this Voldemort character wanted me to watch, wanted me to watch him kill her just for fun."

"Yeah, he's a sick bastard like that," mumbled Harry. "I'm sorry I made you relive it back there. I couldn't control what I saw and didn't see."

"It's alright. Its one of those things that you don't forget, even if you want to. Like you and your godfather."

Harry nodded and they walked back to the dorms in silence, nursing the individual wounds in their hearts.

When they reached the dorms, Cloud turned at the stairs to see Tifa while Harry headed for the boys dorms.

"Try and get some sleep tonight," Harry said over his shoulder. "We have our first Quidditch game tomorrow and I can't have my star Beater covered in bruises and Troll blood."

"I think I killed the only two Trolls in the Forest last night," Cloud smiled, "but I'll try and be careful."

-VII-

But sleep was the farthest thing on Cloud's mind as he snuck out into the Forbidden Forest again. With no Trolls left to fight and the Centaurs giving him a wide berth after taking a beating from Tifa, Cloud ran. He ran at full speed through the Forest, leaping above the canopy. His wing shot out of his shoulder and Cloud spent hours soaring through the air, flying high above Hogwarts Castle and over Hogsmeade.

When his energy and rage was finally spent, Cloud landed in front of the Main Hall entrance, his wing shrinking and folding back into his body. He stood on shaky legs, his head hung low, and rotated the kinks out of his sore left shoulder.

"Nice night, isn't it?"

Cloud's head snapped up at the sounds of Professor Cid's voice.

"Professor Cid? Um, I know I'm not supposed to be out after hours, but if you talk with Professor Dumbledore…"

"Stow it Strife," Prof. Cid interrupted. "I could give a rat's ass about the school's rules. I broke enough of them in my time. Though I don't know why you're wearing your school robes for sneaking around the grounds."

"I really need new clothes," Cloud muttered, rubbing the back of his head.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing. What are you doing out so late?"

"I don't need to explain myself to a student," Cid glared at Cloud. "But if you must know, I was having a drink in Hogsmeade. That Madam Rosemerta serves some damn fine Fire Whiskey."

"I know. Well, I probably should be going, I'm playing in the Quidditch game tomorrow and Harry'll kill me if I don't get some rest."

"First game of the season. Nervous?"

"A little," Cloud admitted.

"Come with me, I think I have something you could use."

They walked into the castle and wound through several hallways before entering the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Cid's office was located in the back. The office was small with a desk and a pair of chairs as the only furniture. The rest of the room was filled with stacks of files, loose papers and books, pilled and scattered without any sign of order or purpose. Various knickknacks rested on top of the stacks of paper: strange colored rocks, broken bits of metal, tools of all shapes and sizes, gears, the head of his Golem, and what Cloud assumed was the skull of a very small dragon.

"Sit down," Cid said, sitting down behind his desk and pouring himself a glass of Fire Whiskey. He drank it down, not offering any to Cloud, and asked: "So, what are you?"

"Huh?" Cloud felt a small ball of panic swell up in his throat.

"What are you? Keeper? Chaser?"

"Oh, my Quidditch position. I'm a Beater," answered Cloud.

"I figured as much," nodded Cid. "You're too big for a Seeker or Chaser and too quick to be wasted at Keeper. Besides, from what I've seen and heard, you damn well sure have the temperament for the job."

"I guess so," Cloud shrugged.

"I was a pretty fair Quidditch player, once upon a time," Cid said, leaning back in his chair, a small grin on his face as he recollected on memories past. "Course, that was about 20 years and 50 lbs ago, but I was a solid Keeper. Not good enough to go pro, but I was still pretty goddamn good. The Weasley boy's your Keeper, right? He any good?"

"I heard he can be pretty good," Cloud answered. "Has a problem with nerves though."

"Tell him to picture the other team in their dress robes," said Cid. "Makes them a lot less scary lookin'." He stood up and began rummaging through a pile of papers, pushing them out of the way. The papers and books scattered and fell onto the ground as Cid dug deeper. "I have something for ya, might help ya if I can find the goddamn piece of junk. How could something so bloody big be so hard to find?" he grumbled. "Ah, here it is."

Cid emerged from the mess of books and papers holding the largest wooden bat Cloud had ever seen. The bat was the same length as the Buster Sword and, from the apparent strain on Cid's face as he carried it, was easily as heavy.

Cid dropped the bat with a loud humph and leaned it up against his desk. He spun it, showing Cloud the engraving on its side.

Official Quidditch Beater Bat

Giant Size

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXL

"Giant size?" asked Cloud.

"Believe it or not, there was actually a Quidditch League for Giants a long time ago," Cid explained. "Didn't last long though; too many casualties."

Cloud picked the bat up easily; it was about the same weight as his sword. He gave it a few practice swings before twirling it over his head.

"Take it easy, ya big blonde buffoon!" Cid shouted, ducking out of the way. "Be careful with that thing; there aren't many souvenirs like that left."

"Thanks a lot Professor, this is gonna work great tomorrow," said Cloud, putting the bat back down.

"Don't mention it. Now get out of here. Try not to get caught by Snape, I think it's his night to patrol the halls," Cid said and sat back down behind his desk.

Cloud nodded and turned to leave the office. He opened the door and walked out of the office. He was about to close the door when Cid spoke from his desk.

"Oh, and Cloud?"

"Yes Professor?"

"Try to behave tomorrow. Those are just kids out there, not Shinra soldiers or mechs."

Cloud stopped in his tracks, his mouth hanging wide open. 'How could he know about them?' he thought. He turned and opened his mouth to speak, but Cid waved his hand and his office door magically closed. Cloud tried the knob, but it wouldn't budge. He slammed his shoulder into it, but the door didn't move an inch.

"Damn magic," Cloud grumbled, rubbing his sore shoulder. He walked out of the classroom, determined to confront Cid about it the first chance he had.

-VII-

Cloud stood in the Gryffindor locker room, dressed in red and gold Quidditch robes, showing off his new bat.

"Where did you get that?" asked Colin Creevey, the other Gryffindor Beater, amazed by the size of the bat. Cloud handed it to him, but Colin couldn't hold its weight and fell flat on his backside with the bat on top of him.

"Professor Cid gave it to me," said Cloud, picking the bat off Colin's chest with one hand and helping Colin up with his other.

"They'll never let you play with that," said Katie. "The Slytherins will protest it the second you step out there."

"It says Official Bat on it," argued Ginny. "I bet Madam Hooch allows it."

"Can you hit Malfoy on the head with that?" asked Ron.

"I'll give it a shot," smiled Cloud.

"Just don't get thrown out of the game," said Harry as he entered the locker room along side Tifa. "I can't afford to lose anybody out there today."

"We were only joking Harry." Cloud started to laugh, but stopped when he saw the serious look on Harry's face.

"Listen, I've wanted to squash Malfoy and the Slytherins ever since the twins and I got thrown out last year. But we can't afford to lose our heads our there. We need to play smart as well as hard. No mistakes," Harry said before a wild looking smile broke out across his face. "No mercy either."

"Yeah!" whooped Ron. "Now you're talking!"

"Ginny, Tifa, Katie. I want you three to dazzle them out there. You're the best Chasers in Hogwarts and I want you to show them all what you got," ordered Harry. "Cloud, Colin. I need you guys to protect Ron and the girls. Keep those Bludgers away from us."

"And bash those Bludgers at the Slytherin's heads," interjected Ron. "Especially Malfoy's!"

"That too," nodded Harry. "But focus on defending those goals, Ron. We need you to keep your head out there. No stupid mistakes, ok?"

"And what are you going to be doing?" asked Tifa, tying her long hair back in a tight braid so it wouldn't blow in her face while flying.

"Same thing he always does," grinned Colin, his face bright with hero worship. "Harry's gonna catch the Snitch and win the game!"

"We're all gonna win," grinned Harry, holding his hand out in front of him. "On three?" The others piled their hands on top of his and began to cheer.

"One… two… three… GRYFFINDOR!"

-VII-

The stadium erupted as the Gryffindor team walked out on to the field. Most of the stands were filled with crimson and gold banners and signs. A loud roar burst over the stands as Luna Lovegood's lion hat came to life.

The Slytherin team came out to cheers from their own house and a chorus of boos from the rest of the stands. Still, they stood proud on the field and glared at their rivals.

"Hey, you can't use that tree trunk as a bat, freak!" shouted Malfoy when he saw Cloud's giant bat. He stormed across the field, followed by the rest of the team, and confronted Cloud. "Madam Hooch, he's trying to cheat!"

Madam Hooch swooped down on her broom and landed in between the two teams. "Mr. Strife, you know it is against the rules to magically enhance or change your equipment. I'm afraid I have to disqualify you and your team…"

"Whoa, whoa," protested Cloud. "I didn't change anything. Professor Cid gave it to me like this." He lifted the bat off his shoulder and showed it to Madam Hooch. Her eagle eyes swept over the bat and focused on the engraved inscription.

"I…I don't believe it," Madam Hooch gasped. "A real Giant's League Bat. How did Professor Cid find such a treasure?"

"I don't know, you'd have to ask him. Can I use it?"

"Yes, of course," exclaimed Madam Hooch. "Though I can't believe you're actually going to play with it. It's an antique, worth thousands of galleons."

"Madam Hooch, you can't be serious!" protested Malfoy. "This is completely unfair."

"Stop whining Malfoy," said Tifa. "You're already ugly, you don't need to be annoying too."

"You shut up! You're a freak just like your boyfriend. A pretty freak, but a freak none the less!"

"Enough!" Madam Hooch shouted, stepping in front of Tifa before the girl could snap Malfoy in half. "I will not tolerate this sort of behavior on my field. The next outburst will disqualify his or her team. Do you understand? Now, I want a clean and proper match. Now, captains shake hands and take your positions."

Harry and Malfoy reached out and shook hands, each trying to squeeze hard enough to crush the others fingers.

"Try not to cry when I beat you this time Potty," sneered Malfoy before taking off.

"Like you've ever had a chance at beating me Blondie," Harry sneered right back and he flew high into the air, away from Malfoy.

TWEET!

Madam Hooch's whistle cut through the air and the Quidditch match began.

-VII-

"And the first match of the year begins!" shouted a new voice from the commentator's podium. A tall, skinny blonde boy with an upturned nose was standing there, talking into the magical microphone. His name was Zacharias Smith, a Hufflepuff player who had problems with Harry the previous year.

"It's Slytherin versus Gryffindor and we all know there's no love between these two teams. "Potter has fielded a questionable team in his first season as Gryffindor Captain. There aught to be rules about picking your friends and fans for teammates.

Slytherin's Valisey has the Quaffle and is streaking across the pitch. Seems like Potter's friends don't have much in terms of speed. Valisey passes to Urquhart, Urquhart shoots…SCORES!" Smith's voice boomed across the stadium. "Slytherin takes the lead 10-0!"

Cloud hovered in the air, gigantic bat resting on his shoulder, watching as Ginny recovered the Quaffle and passed it to Tifa. While Katie ran interference and distracted the Slytherin Chasers, they weaved through the Slytherin defenses effortlessly, passing the Quaffle between themselves the entire way. Tifa lowered her shoulder and plowed through Crabbe, giving Ginny the opening to hurl the Quaffle past Pucey for the score.

The Gryffindor section cheered, complete with a roar from Luna Lovegood's lion hat.

"Gryffindor scores on some fancy flying from its Chasers," Zacharias reported, less than enthusiastic. "Lockhart provided an ample block there for Weasley, and—oh she's fouled from behind by Goyle! I don't care what you say, there are just some things you shouldn't do with a Bludger bat. Penalty shot for Gryffindor…and Bell puts it in. 20-10 and Lockhart seems to be ok."

Cloud's eyes narrowed and his grip on the bat tightened, the urge to drop his bat and draw the sword hidden in his sleeve tempting. His glowing eyes followed the trail of the closest Bludger and he steered his broom to intercept. Cloud waited, bat at the ready, and swung hard. The Giant League Bat connected with the Bludger and sent it screaming towards Goyle. The boy looked up and pulled back on his broomstick, just in time to keep the Bludger from separating his head from his body. Instead, the Bludger slammed into his broom, splintering it, and sending Goyle crashing to the sandy ground.

"And it looks like Strife has avenged his teammate and taken poor Goyle out of the game. That's a teammate for ya folks, although I hear that there's more than just camaraderie between those two."

Cloud ignored the commentator, making a mental note to pound him when Gryffindor played Hufflepuff, and went back to concentrating on the game. The game progressed, the score and players going back and forth, back and forth. The Slytherin team grew steadily rougher and began fouling more often as the game went on. Cloud and Tifa took it upon themselves to retaliate as much as possible, resulting in a series of penalties for both teams.

Harry raced around, high above the rest of the players, looking for the Snitch. Malfoy was always close by, nipping at Harry's heels, watching Harry instead of looking for the Snitch himself.

"Just you and me up here Potty," Malfoy sneered, pulling up alongside Harry. "You got lucky the last time."

"Which last time would that be, Malfoy?" Harry grinned back. "Seems to me that there's a whole bunch of them."

"You think you're so smart, don't you Potter. But you're just a weakling that got lucky in the Ministry."

"Shame you weren't there," Harry said, ducking beneath a "You would have looked pretty funny with some brain tentacles in that greasy hair of yours."

Malfoy made a face and was about to say something when he saw something golden flitter past Harry's head. He pulled down on his broomstick and charged right at Harry. Alarmed, Harry reared back to avoid the collision, not realizing that the Snitch was right behind his head.

Harry spun as Malfoy flew past him and spotted the Snitch immediately. "Déjà vu," he muttered and flew after Malfoy.

"Malfoy has spotted the Golden Snitch and is taking off after it!" exclaimed Smith. "Potter is in close pursuit!"

Harry's Firebolt was significantly faster than Malfoy's Nimbus 2001 and he caught up quickly. Soon, the two Seekers were neck and neck, both reaching for the Snitch. Malfoy threw his elbow into Harry's face, knocking him back and taking the lead again.

"And Malfoy pulls ahead with some expert flying!" cried Smith while the Gryffindor stands screamed for a foul.

Harry spit a wad of blood from his mouth and put his head down, urging his broom faster. He closed the gap, but saw Malfoy reach out, his fingers mere inches from the fluttering Snitch. Wind loud enough to drown out the cheering crowd, Zacharias Smith's commentary, and even Luna's lion hat filled Harry's ears as he pushed his broom faster and faster.

Malfoy stretched for the Snitch, his fingertips nearly reaching it, when Harry caught him and slammed his shoulder into Malfoy. Malfoy corkscrewed through the air, away from the Snitch, giving Harry the chance to reach for it.

"Potter sneaks past Malfoy and nearly has the Snitch!"

Harry never heard Zacharias' comments, in fact no one did. Because just as Zacharias spoke, just as Harry's fingers closed around the Golden Snitch, the Quidditch Stadium plunged into chaos.

-VII-

The Slytherin goal posts burst in a fiery explosion, burning a great crater into the Quidditch pitch. The explosion sent Pucey and Urquhart careening across the sky, their robes and brooms ablaze, like the tails of comets. It knocked Harry and Malfoy higher into the air, their brooms spinning in an uncontrollable tailspin. The shockwave from the blast knocked poor Colin and Ginny into the stands and knocked Ron into his own goal posts. The blast knocked Tifa and Katie off their brooms; Katie landed hard, face down in the sand; while Tifa managed to roll and get back to her feet quickly.

The spectators reacted in a broad panic. Many of the students, especially the first years, screamed and fought each other to reach the exits. The Teachers tried to control the students and put out the magical blaze on the field, but were failing at both.

Black smoke belched into sky as the fires burned hotter and larger. Cloud and Harry were the only two players left still flying. They hovered there, Cloud's bat hanging loosely in his hand and Harry's fingers still wrapped around the forgotten Snitch.

They stared at burning goal posts until a loud whooping coming from above caught their attention.

A trio of figures on black strange looking brooms flew over the stadium. They flew through the burning hoops and spiraled into the air, hovering above the fire. The trio was dressed in black leather battlesuits and each had pure white hair in varying lengths.

Cloud's glowing eyes opened wide as he stared at the trio. "It can't be…" he muttered, straining his eyes for a better look.

The trio floated down to the ground and stepped off their brooms in front of the grandstands. The one with medium length hair stepped forward and bowed low to the gathered students and teachers.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, witches and wizards!" he exclaimed. "It's so good to meet you all."

"Who are you?" asked Dumbledore. He stood up and approached the trio, his wand held loosely at his side. "What do you want?"

"My name is Kadaj and these are my brothers Yazoo and Loz," he said, gesturing to his long haired and short haired siblings. "And we're here on some family business. A Reunion so to speak. Now where is our dear brother? Its time we took him home."

"I'm afraid that I cannot let you take any of my students anywhere," Dumbledore said and raised his wand at Kadaj. Kadaj grinned at Dumbledore, baring his teeth in a mad grin.

"You have no power here old man. You and your kind are like insects to my family." Kadaj stepped backwards and Yazoo, the long haired brother walked towards Dumbledore.

Yazoo closed his eyes for a moment, concentrating hard, and raised his hands into the air. Clouds of black sprang into existence, swirling around and condensing, forming a small army of shadowy, wolf-like monsters. Most of the students and several professors screamed as the Shadow Wolves snapped their jaws and raced into the stands, starting a panic.

Several students, all members of Dumbledore's army, drew their wands and fired Stunning Spells at the Shadow Wolves, blasting them back into wisps of cloud. The Wolves themselves weren't very durable, but for every one the young witches and wizards destroyed, two more took its place.

Tifa raced across the field and stood in-between the Wolves and the students. She pulled off her Quidditch robes, reveling her tank top and short skirt underneath. She assumed her fighting stance, despite not having her gloves on, and destroyed the first Wolf that came close enough with a devastating front kick. She pivoted on her heel, striking another three Wolves with a spinning back fist.

"Hmm, she's got some spirit," said Kadaj. "Take care of her Loz." Loz grinned, his lips pulled back like an animal, and his piledriver weapon snapped into place on his wrist. He started running at Tifa, becoming a blurred streak of black. Tifa braced herself, throwing a straight punch to intercept the charging Loz.

Loz grinned before ducking beneath Tifa's punch and lowered his shoulder, colliding into Tifa's stomach. The tackle sent Tifa flying backwards into the stands, smashing several rows of bleachers to splinters. Tifa rolled off the bleachers, her ribs tender from the blow. She staggered and stood, but couldn't see Loz anywhere.

"Here pretty, pretty, pretty," Loz said from behind Tifa. With a cackle of electricity, Loz slammed his piledriver into Tifa's back, electrocuting her and launching her across the entire Quidditch field. She skipped off the sandy ground several times and came to a stop, face down and not moving, in a small trench near the Gryffindor goal posts.

-VII-

Cloud grit his teeth and growled under his breath as he saw Tifa take the hit from Loz's weapon. By the time she bounced off the ground and came to a rest beneath the goal posts, Cloud was already streaking towards Loz, his Beater Bat tossed aside. He dug under his sleeve and withdrew his miniaturized sword. With a word, the Hardedge grew to its proper and menacing size and Cloud aimed its square tip at Loz's chest.

Kadaj moved in a flash of silver, putting himself between Cloud's sword and Loz's chest, blocking Cloud's attack with his blade.

"Now, now, that won't do at all," Kadaj smiled, spinning around and kicking Cloud off his broom. "That's no way to greet your dear brothers."

"Brothers?" Cloud uttered as he stood and leveled his sword at Kadaj.

"Surely you see the family resemblance?" asked Kadaj, spreading his hands out wide to showcase himself.

"Just look like the same Sephiroth clones we came across back home," Cloud growled, his eyes boring into Kadaj's. "Those sacks of garbage, those pure and proper experiments, they all died in a pool of black piss and never made it near Sephiroth."

"I am far superior to those puppets as you are to these disgusting humans!" Kadaj exclaimed in a sudden blaze of fury. "They were just bits of leftovers and wasted Jenova Cells. Your Sephiroth means nothing to us. His blood and flesh were just meaty ingredients to give us shape and form. Our life comes from our Father, the Dark Lord himself," he said, raising his hand and stretching his fingers towards Cloud, wisps of smoke leaking out from beneath his fingernails. "We are born from his magic!"

Tentacles of black lightning sparked off Kadaj's fingers, arcing across the air towards Cloud. Cloud managed to bring his sword up in the nick of time to block the lightning. It was only when the lightning slammed into the sword that Cloud realized that using a metal object to block electricity was not one of his better ideas.

The lightning coursed up and down the Hardedge and into Cloud, knocking him backwards and into the air. He landed in the sand as Kadaj lowered his fingers. The Remnant walked towards Cloud, twirling his sword by his side, humming a nameless tune.

"Ouch," groaned Cloud as he stood, rolling the kinks out of his neck. "Never saw that one before. Voldemort teach it to ya?"

"My Father taught me many things," Kadaj growled and lunged at Cloud, slashing downward to cut Cloud's torso in half. Cloud brought his sword up and parried the attack, thrusting at Kadaj's chest. Kadaj spun out of the way, backing off enough for Cloud to press the advantage.

They crashed into each other, sparks cascading off their swords, before separating. Cloud pushed Kadaj backwards and a pair of quick slashes knocked Kadaj back towards the burning goal posts. Kadaj skidded to a halt and bared his teeth at Cloud. He was being beaten and he didn't like it at all.

"You're pretty strong for a discarded puppet," he sneered, trying to get under Cloud's skin. "If you'd only embrace your other side, you could rival Father's puppet in power."

"I already defeated Sephiroth," Cloud growled, his eyes glowing brighter. "And your deranged Father is next!"

Full of rage, Cloud lunged at Kadaj, chopping at him with an obvious overhead swing. Kadaj reached up and caught Cloud's sword with his own. Kadaj twisted his wrist, trapping Cloud's sword between his twin blades. Cloud pulled and pulled, but couldn't free his sword. The rectangular blade began to bend and made an unhealthy strained noise. Cloud mentally cursed; if he had replaced the Ultima crystal in his sword, the blade would be much stronger and would have cut through Kadaj's blades effortlessly. But the Hardedge, while stronger than the normal Buster Sword, just couldn't handle stress for very much longer.

"Nice trick," he muttered, still pulling at his sword. Kadaj smiled, and turned his wrist more, putting more stress on the Hardedge.

"And for my next one…" Kadaj smiled wider and raised his free hand, touching Cloud's sword with his fore finger. "Fracta."

A single crack split down the center of Cloud's sword before spreading out across the entire surface. Cloud's eyes grew in horror as his sword, his treasured sword, burst into a hundred thousand pieces, the steel shattering like a plane of glass, leaving him holding nothing more than a broken handle. The pieces continued to disintegrate, turning into grains of sand as they fell to the ground.

Cloud fell to his knees, dropping his broken handle, his spirit as broken as his sword. He looked around the Quidditch field, seeing nothing but devastation. Tifa was still lying on the other end of the field, barely moving. Harry and the others were still fighting off legions of Shadow Wolves. Teachers were trying to evacuate the students from the stands and fight simultaneously. Cloud could see several students were wounded, while several lay face down at their seats, still, bloody, and torn.

"Still think I'm a worthless clone?" Kadaj asked as he stood over Cloud. "You are the worthless one. Go to the other world and know that I will burn all you know and hold dear."

Kadaj raised his sword, lining it up with the back of Cloud's neck. He wound up, like a baseball player, ready to cleave Cloud's head and neck from his body. Cloud made no move to stop him.

Kadaj stepped to swing, but stopped as a series of bright beams of magic cut through all of the remaining Shadow Wolves. The Order of the Phoenix, led by Mad-Eye Moody, appeared in the air, flying to the rescue on broomstick. Moody swooped down at Yazoo, knocking him down with a wave of his staff. The combined force of Tonks (her hair a somber mousy brown) and Molly Weasley stunned Loz, driving him to one knee and keeping him away from Tifa.

Free from battling the Shadow Wolves, Dumbledore whirled into the air with a grace that belittled his advanced age, firing a series of curses and hexes at Kadaj. Abandoning striking a brutal coup de ta on Cloud, Kadaj leapt into the air, spiraling to avoid Dumbledore's spells. He landed beside his downed brothers, picking them up off the ground. Loz and Yazoo, shaking off the effects of the Order's spells, raised their hands and summoned their brooms. The black brooms whipped through the air and hovered obediently in front of the brothers. Loz and Yazoo took off, racing past the members of the Order, and disappeared into the cloudy sky.

Kadaj stood still, his broom hovering at waist height, surrounded by a growing number of teachers and members of the Order of the Phoenix. The Order members were especially twitchy; they immediately noticed Kadaj's resemblance to Sephiroth and were keen to avenge Kingsley Shacklebolt's death.

Kadaj smirked at the angry mob, perfectly calm despite the situation. "Your world is at its end," he said, his voice low and sinister. "My family will cover this world in darkness before burning it to ashes. Morsmordre!" Kadaj's arm shot into the sky and the Dark Mark burst into existence amongst the clouds. The yawning skull with a serpent slithering out of its mouth distracted the Order of the Phoenix long enough for Kadaj to mount his broom and take off after his brothers.